Brian Schottenheimer: Caleb Downs can line up 'anywhere,' even on CeeDee Lamb
Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer says rookie safety Caleb Downs' versatility lets Dallas deploy him all over the field, including on the team's top receiver up the seam.
The Cowboys believe they landed a defensive chess piece with the second overall pick. Asked at camp where rookie safety Caleb Downs can line up, defensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer made clear there are almost no limits on the role.
Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN): When I asked Brian Schottenheimer at camp where Caleb Downs can line up, he said, 'anywhere.' Then added, he can cover CeeDee Lamb up the seam. The versatility on display here.
Schottenheimer's answer points to the kind of positionless versatility defensive coordinators covet in the modern NFL. Downs, who arrived in Dallas as one of the most decorated defensive prospects in the class, is being viewed as a true hybrid — a safety by title who can slide into the slot, drop into zone, or even travel with an elite target like CeeDee Lamb in man coverage up the seam. That flexibility lets the Cowboys disguise looks and match speed with speed against the NFC East's array of skill talent.
For a defense retooling under a new coordinator, a player who removes matchup questions is a luxury. The Cowboys' willingness to use Downs all over the field also suggests they intend to maximize his snap count from day one rather than ease a rookie into a narrowly defined role. How often Dallas actually deploys him on its top receiver in games will be one of the more intriguing camp-storyline-to-regular-season translations to watch.